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Five things: What to look out for on Matchday 2

11 August 2017

Another weekend is upon us and, once again, there's plenty to look out for among a full EFL fixture schedule. Here are just a few of the storylines...

Hatters hungry for more?

Luton Town were the main topic of discussion after the opening weekend of the 2017/18 season, following their 8-2 demolition of Yeovil Town.

They couldn't add to that tally against Sky Bet Championship opposition in midweek, but Nathan Jones and his squad won't be too disheartened by Tuesday night's loss to Ipswich Town.

Instead the focus turns to a trip to Barnet, a side who the Hatters have never failed to score against. Six wins, one draw and a solitary defeat from their eight meetings. Will the Bees be able to keep them at bay this time around?

A league above – Millwall versus Bolton

Bolton Wanderers were one of three sides promoted to the Sky Bet Championship last term after finishing second in the tier below, and Millwall joined them courtesy of a Play-Off Final victory at Wembley.

Now, the pair go head-to-head in the second tier, with at least one of the sides set to get off the mark after opening weekend defeats.

Recent history favours the Trotters, who have won the last four games against Saturday's hosts without conceding a goal.

Reliant Robins – Bristol City's fast starters

Two games, two wins, eight goals – it's not been a bad start to the new season for Lee Johnson and his Bristol City players.

In fact, 'not a bad start' is also a modest assessment of the Robins' first pair of fixtures. In their opening day win against Barnsley, they had raced into a 3-0 lead after just half an hour.

Then it was Plymouth Argyle in the Carabao Cup, where it took just 19 minutes to build up that scoreline, leading to a 5-0 win over the Pilgrims. It's Birmingham City who will have to be on guard this Saturday.

Former bosses re-unite

This weekend sees two managers come up against recent employers, looking to show their former club what they're missing.

One of those is Mark Warburton who was relieved of his Brentford duties back in the summer of 2015. He now returns to Griffin Park with Nottingham Forest, on the back of a winning start last weekend.

The other is Russell Slade, who was at Coventry City for 16 games last season before he and the club parted company. Now he's the Grimsby Town boss, and welcomes the Sky Blues to Blundell Park this weekend.

Carabao Cup heroes back to EFL action

Just six unseeded sides upset the odds to reach Round Two of the Carabao Cup, and now all eyes are back on the EFL for the midweek heroes.

Accrington Stanley, Barnet, Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town and Newport County were the five Sky Bet League Two winners, while Doncaster Rovers overcame Bradford City in an all-Sky Bet League One Yorkshire derby.

After their midweek exploits, will momentum carry into Saturday afternoon's fixtures?


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